EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — A Texas charity will be providing grocery store gift cards for families in need in El Paso County after the government shutdown paused SNAP benefits.
On Wednesday, the Youth Peace and Justice Foundation (YPJF), also known as The Uvalde Foundation For Kids nonprofit charity, announced it has expanded its emergency food assistance program to more counties in Texas, including El Paso County, in an effort to provide 2,000 grocery store gift cards after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that monthly SNAP food benefits will not be issued Nov. 1 due to the government shutdown.
The emergency program was first launched in Bell County, but it has now expanded to serve qualifying families in other counties such as McClellan, Bexar, Williamson, Milan, Coryell, Hays, Travis, San Saba, Harris, Dallas, and, as was mentioned before, El Paso.
Typically, the foundation provides families with H.E.B. gift cards, but since there are no H.E.B. grocery stores in El Paso County, the foundation said Walmart gift cards will be available instead.
The Foundation said it helps primarily families with school-age children, so qualifying families in El Paso County affected by the pause of SNAP benefits are encouraged to visit the Foundation’s Info Page on their website to ask about receiving a gift card.
Families should contact Maria Sanchez, Director of Community Outreach, by email, via the foundation website, or by phone at 254-499-8027.
The Foundation added that the help will be available while funds last and only for November.
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YPJF Outreach Coordinator, Jennifer West, noted, “This sudden loss of November food benefits, compounded by the uncertainty of new rules, demands an urgent and broad response. Thanks to a massive influx of support, including an additional 2,000 H.E.B. cards, we are dramatically scaling up to cover 11 counties. We are stepping in with temporary, immediate aid to ensure children can eat while their parents navigate the immediate benefits halt and the new rules for future support.”
Founder Daniel Chapin added, “While the H.E.B. cards provide immediate, tangible relief, one added benefit of this grassroots effort is instilling a sense of hope and stability in our communities. It reminds every family that they are not alone and that their neighbors are standing with them during this critical time. Our greatest goal is to protect the emotional well-being of the children by making sure they don’t have to worry about where their next meal will come from.”
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